The ozone trend in the layer of 2 to 3 km a.s.l. since 1978 and the typical time variations of the ozone profile between ground and 3 km a.s.l.

Summary Longterm recordings of the O₃ concentration at the Zugspitze in 2964 m a.s.l. and at the Wank peak in 1780 m a.s.l. together with continuous daily measurements of cosmogenic radio-nuclides have been analyzed in order to ascertain whether or not a significant trend of O₃ exists. Recordings from 1981 to 1988 show definitely that there was no trend of the O₃ concentration in the free atmosphere between 1.8 and 3 km a.s.l. However, an increase of 10 ppb occurred 1978 to 1981.A cable car operating between Zugspitze and the valley (in 1000 m a.s.l.) over a two km height difference at the northern border of the Bavarian Alps has been used for atmospheric research. The run of this cable car is rather steep and is mostly suspended far away from the ground. Consequently it is ideal for simulataneously investigating the profiles of meteorlogical and atmospheric electrical parameters, and the ozone concentration. From 1980 to 1982 a total of 1990 ozone profiles have been recorded on fair weather days. The data collected offer a profound basis in order to study the time variations in the lower tropospheric ozone profile depending on the hour of the day during all seasons. The influence of the following atmospheric processes and conditions on the O₃ profile pattern has been investigated:Vertical mixing intensity in and above the boundary layer, temperature inversions, photochemical production of ozone or its depletion in the lowermost layers, and stratospheric intrusions based on the measurements of cosmogenic radionuclides on Zugspitze, the upper end of the trail. The penetration depth of stratospheric O₃ in the lower troposphere has been investigated and the shape and time behavior of temporarily O₃ maxima within the boundary layer has been studied.With 12 FiguresExtended version of a paper presented at the International Conference on the Generation of Oxidants on Regional and Global Scales, held at the Univ. of East Anglia, Norwich, England, 3–7 July 1989.